Waldo cops say they've been under ticket quotas

2 years ago

WALDO, Fla. (AP) - Five Florida police officers told the Waldo city council that they've been under a quote to write traffic tickets, which is a violation of Florida law.

The Gainesville Sun (http://bit.ly/vna69q) reports officer Brandon Roberts told council members on Tuesday night they were required by Chief Mike Szabo to write 12 speeding tickets per 12-hour shift, or face punishment. He offered an electronic presentation and printed emails as evidence.

Roberts said they were speaking up because they no longer have faith in their ``chain of command.''

Waldo was ranked as the nation's third worst speed trap by a national publication in 2012. The Sun reports that documents show about half the city's $1 million budget comes from an item listed as “police revenue.”